What is RelyLocal?

A healthy community depends on a healthy economy, and both completely depend on the local businesses in Martinsburg! There are a number of great studies out there that illustrate how shopping locally will stimulate the Martinsburg economy.
Simply put, more money spent with local businesses stays here (about 68%), where much less money spent with national chains stays in the area (only about 14%), and money spent online... well... simply leaves. Forever.

"It's about the economy, stupid!" - James Carville

To us, supporting local businesses doesn't stop with the economy - It is all about creating a stable and vibrant community! Martinsburg businesses create jobs (tax revenue for schools, parks, roads) while offering diversity in the marketplace, with unique products and services not found in big-box stores or chain restaurants. Not to mention - these local business are owned by the very people who sponsor our little leagues, donate to our local charities, and volunteer for our community events - giving back to the community in countless ways. You rely on them, but can they rely on you?

RelyLocal is a Community Campaign

There are plenty of "local" online directories and various "buy local" movements sprouting up across the country. Unfortunately, most of the other websites simply buy (or steal) their data from giant databases full of national chains, while selling advertising to the highest bidder (the national chains). Only RelyLocal is locally owned and operated by your neighbors who really understand what Martinsburg businesses are up against. RelyLocal isn't just a website - it is a community campaign to rebuild our local economy and strengthen our community!

Discover Martinsburg Businesses - No Big-Box! *
You'd be amazed how many local businesses are out there - offering exactly what you are looking for. Usually, the trouble is just finding them! We are partnering with amazing local businesses and will help you understand how supporting them will support your community.
Print Martinsburg Coupons - On Demand!
Saving money doesn't have to cost you! And, you no longer have to weed through the coupon books that fill your mail box. We'll bring you the latest special offers from local businesses that you can print whenever you need them. Just print and save!
Find Jobs in Martinsburg - Now Hiring!
There are so many different online job boards and newspapers out there featuring a just a few jobs here and there, it is hard to know where to search. Luckily, we have combined them all to provide you with the most local jobs in the Martinsburg area!
Get Connected - Online and Off!
We want you to be an active partner in our campaign to re-build the Martinsburg economy! Get connected, share your reviews of local businesses, and show your support around town or online. Don't just site on the sidelines - become an advocate!

Getting Involved With RelyLocal

If you are a local business owner who would like to partner with RelyLocal in our campaigns to support local businesses, you can learn more about our strategies and services or just get in touch. We'd love to see how we can help your business!
Otherwise, if you are an excited loyal local that wants to spread the word, you can get connected with other like-minded locals and show your support around town...

Note: We aren't anti-WalMart, HomeDepot, or Olive Garden at all. We are simply fans of the economic and social effects of supporting local business in Martinsburg!

This is why we need to keep our money LOCAL.

Produced Locally...

I found this website which allows you to look up local farmers markets and farms in your area all you have to do is type in your zip code.
http://www.localharvest.org/

Okay so some of you may be thinking that shopping at a farmers market will cost more...well, not really when you look at it this way. You may be spending a little bit more money but, you are getting soooo much more. Not only is the product fresh, nutritous and chemical free but, you are also putting money back into your local economy. That farmer is going to turn around and put that money he makes right back into our local economy.  If you have never had locally grown produce or locally farmed meat and eggs you honestly don't know what your missing. Also, you can find a wide range of local products at a farmers market...from fresh baked breads and pies to things like handmade candles and soaps. Check out your local farmers market and trust me you'll never want to go back to shopping at the national food chains.

Social Media Revolution 2 (Refresh)

Social Media Marketing in 3 minutes

So, are you someone who doesn't quite see the potential of social media marketing or maybe you just don't understand it. This video helps explain why so many businesses are jumping on the social media train and why you should too!


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JT's Bar & Grill story

JT's Neighborhood Bar & Grill is one of our customers at RelyLocal-Martinsburg. An idea was thought up to give away one free steak dinner for two on facebook and you could be entered just by hitting the "like" button. So, we posted this on FB and got a great response! Not only did we get a lot of exposure for JT's and RelyLocal but, JT's got a loyal return customer out of it. The couple that won the dinner, decided to go and just check out the place before they used the gift certificate. They went and enjoyed it...then they came back and brought their friends! They have since used the steak dinner voucher but, they continue to frequent JT's on a weekly basis.
This is just one way that our RelyLocal-Martinsburg has helped out a business in our area. This is what we want to do for all the businesses who we work with. We want to help get their name out there. We want to get them new customers. Not only did we get JT's exposure that they may not have gotten without RelyLocal but, they also gained a few new "regulars".

Social Media Marketing...What's that?

Okay so it has been brought to my attention, several times since we began our RelyLocal-Martinsburg business, that a lot of people in our area don't quite understand the internet and it's potential. Why is this? Well, I thought about it and honestly I believe it's due to a number of things. The older you are the less likely you are to use the internet. Many of the local business owners in our area are of an older generation, which is wonderful and I am in no way knocking that but, in todays society and yes even in our little town, the internet is an extremely important tool to have and understand. So how do we get our older generation business owners to acknowledge the need for social media marketing? Well, that is a tough one because there are always going to be those few that say "oh no, we don't need the internet." and that is fine. Without the internet and social media marketing these businesses are essentially invisible to a large part of the population. By taking advantage of the internet RelyLocal, as a whole, has created a way to market these businesses in such a way that they are optimized for the internet and they are "out there" (for lack of better terms) for everyone to see on the popular social networks. I feel the important thing is that these business owners understand the opportunity the internet provides to grow their business. I am not saying that the internet is going to take their little shop and turn it into a giant corporation but, what I am saying is that there is the potential out there for them to gain more business and create a buzz in the community. That is what we strive to accomplish with RelyLocal-Martinsburg, we want to get the word out about these local businesses and keep our local economy thriving.

April 2nd Yard Sale and Vendors Tables Benefit Uni-Fest and Bags of Love

This event is being hosted as we speak at the 365 Church in martinsburg at the old Corning Plant on Rt 11.
We have a table set up with lots of info on local businesses that have signed on with RelyLocal-Martinsburg. Flyers and business cards. Hoping to get the word out about helping the community by shopping in our area. Apparently the turnout has been great and it's all for a great cause.

This is an excerpt from the 365 website about Bags of Love:

On March 6^th, 2011, we memorialized the life of a five year old, vibrant child, a 365er who went home to be with the Lord on Jan. 12th of this year. In doing so we established the "Dallas Daniels Bags of Love Memorial" as a lasting testimony to his life who although short on earth, will be remembered forever as we feed hungry children each weekend in his memory.

  For just a Dollar a Day you can be a member of this community team insuring no child goes hungry over the weekend, no working poor family suffers from household shortages, and no person remains unaffected by the love of God where they live.

You can read more about this charity by going to http://www.365church.org/bol

Welcome to RelyLocal Martinsburg/Charles Town

Thats right we finally have a RelyLocal Martinsburg Blog! After much thought we decided it was definitely the next step in not only promoting RelyLocal Martinsburg but, our local community as a whole. We help promote the local "Mom and Pop" shops instead of the Walmarts and the "big business" in the area. When you spend your hard earned money, wouldn't you like it to stay in the area and help our community instead of going to a large corporation? That's our goal, to keep you shopping locally and to keep your money in your town.

It seems as though in our local economy small businesses are struggling to survive. We know this isn't going to change instantly but, by taking small steps we can make a difference and so can you. So, if your heading out to buy a loaf of bread or even to get an oil change in your vehicle...instead of going to Walmart or Autozone, try your local bakery or garage, I guarantee you will get friendlier service and a better result.

Come back often to learn more about whats going on in your community and make sure you check our website for local businesses in our area.
 RelyLocal-Martinsburg